Luke Chapter 2 . 1-19 : American Standard Version of 1901

[ 1 ] Now it happened in those days , that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled . [ 2 ] This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria . [ 3 ] All went to enroll themselves , everyone to his own city .

[ 4 ] Joseph also went up from Galilee , out of the city of Nazareth , into Judea , to the city of David , which is called Bethlehem , because he was of the house and family of David ; [ 5 ] to enroll himself with Mary , who was pledged to be married to him as wife , being great with child . [ 6 ] It happened , while they were there , that the day had come that she should give birth . [ 7 ] She brought forth her firstborn son , and she wrapped him in bands of cloth , and laid him in a feeding trough , because there was no room for them in the inn .

[ 8 ] There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field , and keeping watch by night over their flock . [ 9 ] Behold , an angel of the Lord stood by them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them , and they were terrified . [ 10 ] The angel said to them , " Don ' t be afraid , for behold , I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people . [ 11 ] For there is born to you , this day , in the city of David , a Savior , who is Christ the Lord . [ 12 ] This is the sign to you : you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth , lying in a feeding trough . "

[ 13 ] Suddenly , there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God , and saying , [ 14 ] " Glory to God in the highest , On earth peace , good will toward men . "

[ 15 ] It happened , when the angels went away from them into the sky , that the shepherds said one to another , " Let ' s go to Bethlehem , now , and see this thing that has happened , which the Lord has made known to us . " [ 16 ] They came with haste , and found both Mary and Joseph , and the baby lying in the feeding trough . [ 17 ] When they saw it , they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child .

[ 18 ] All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds . [ 19 ] But Mary kept all these sayings , pondering them in her heart .

Luke Chapter 2 . 1-19 : Westcott and Hort , edd . 1885 .

[ 1 ] Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην : [ 2 ] （αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου : ） [ 3 ] καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι , ἔκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν .

[ 4 ] Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲτ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυεὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλεἐμ , διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυείδ , [ 5 ] ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ , οὔσῃ ἐνκύῳ . [ 6 ] Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν , [ 7 ] καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον , καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ , διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι .

[ 8 ] Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν . [ 9 ] καὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς , καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν : [ 10 ] καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος Μὴ φοβεῖσθε , ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ , [ 11 ] ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτὴρ ὅς ἐστιν χριστὸς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυείδ : [ 12 ] καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν σημεῖον , εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ .

[ 13 ] καὶ ἐξέφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων [ 14 ] " Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας . "

[ 15 ] Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι , οἱ ποιμένες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους Διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γεγονὸς ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν . [ 16 ] καὶ ἦλθαν σπεύσαντες καὶ ἀνεῦραν τήν τε Μαριὰμ καὶ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ : [ 17 ] ἰδόντες δὲ ἐγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου .

[ 18 ] καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς , [ 19 ] ἡ δὲ Μαρία πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα συνβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς .

Luke Chapter 2 . 1-19 : King James Version . 1620 .

[ 1 ] And it came to pass in those days , that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed . [ 2 ] ( And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria . ) [ 3 ] And all went to be taxed , every one into his own city .

[ 4 ] And Joseph also went up from Galilee , out of the city of Nazareth , into Judaea , unto the city of David , which is called Bethlehem ; ( because he was of the house and lineage of David : ) [ 5 ] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife , being great with child . [ 6 ] And so it was , that , while they were there , the days were accomplished that she should be delivered . [ 7 ] And she brought forth her firstborn son , and wrapped him in swaddling clothes , and laid him in a manger ; because there was no room for them in the inn .

[ 8 ] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field , keeping watch over their flock by night . [ 9 ] And , lo , the angel of the Lord came upon them , and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid . [ 10 ] And the angel said unto them , Fear not : for , behold , I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people . [ 11 ] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour , which is Christ the Lord . [ 12 ] And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes , lying in a manger .

[ 13 ] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God , and saying , [ 14 ] Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , good will toward men .

[ 15 ] And it came to pass , as the angels were gone away from them into heaven , the shepherds said one to another , Let us now go even unto Bethlehem , and see this thing which is come to pass , which the Lord hath made known unto us . [ 16 ] And they came with haste , and found Mary , and Joseph , and the babe lying in a manger . [ 17 ] And when they had seen it , they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child .

[ 18 ] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds . [ 19 ] But Mary kept all these things , and pondered them in her heart .

ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε βοῶν οὔτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα

There was no sign / Of plowed fields

I saw no sign of cattle or of humans

As for the lineage of Alexander , on his father ' s side he was a descendant of Heracles through Caranus , and on his mother ' s side a descendant of Aeacus through Neoptolemus ; this is accepted without any question . And we are told that Philip , after being initiated into the mysteries of Samothrace at the same time with Olympias , he himself being still a youth and she an orphan child , fell in love with her and betrothed himself to her at once with the consent of her brother , Arymbas . Well , then , the night before that on which the marriage was consummated , the bride dreamed that there was a peal of thunder and that a thunder-bolt fell upon her womb , and that thereby much fire was kindled , which broke into flames that travelled all about , and then was extinguished . At a later time , too , after the marriage , Philip dreamed that he was putting a seal upon his wife ' s womb ; and the device of the seal , as he thought , was the figure of a lion . The other seers , now , were led by the vision to suspect that Philip needed to put a closer watch upon his marriage relations ; but Aristander of Telmessus said that the woman was pregnant , since no seal was put upon what was empty , and pregnant of a son whose nature would be bold and lion-like . Moreover , a serpent was once seen lying stretched out by the side of Olympias as she slept , and we are told that this , more than anything else , dulled the ardour of Philip ' s attentions to his wife , so that he no longer came often to sleep by her side , either because he feared that some spells and enchantments might be practised upon him by her , or because he shrank from her embraces in the conviction that she was the partner of a superior being . But concerning these matters there is another story to this effect : all the women of these parts were addicted to the Orphic rites and the orgies of Dionysus from very ancient times ( being called Klodones and Mimallones ) 1 and imitated in many ways the practices of the Edonian women and the Thracian women about Mount Haemus , from whom , as it would seem , the word " threskeuein " 2 came to be applied to the celebration of extravagant and superstitious ceremonies . Now Olympias , who affected these divine possessions more zealously than other women , and carried out these divine inspirations in wilder fashion , used to provide the revelling companies with great tame serpents , which would often lift their heads from out the ivy and the mystic winnowing-baskets , 3 or coil themselves about the wands and garlands of the women , thus terrifying the men .
However , after his vision , as we are told , Philip sent Chaeron of Megalopolis to Delphi , by whom an oracle was brought to him from Apollo , who bade him sacrifice to Ammon and hold that god in greatest reverence , but told him he was to lose that one of his eyes which he had applied to the chink in the door when he espied the god , in the form of a serpent , sharing the couch of his wife . Moreover , Olympias , as Eratosthenes says , when she sent Alexander forth upon his great expedition , told him , and him alone , the secret of his begetting , and bade him have purposes worthy of his birth .

Ἀλέξανδρος ὅτι τῷ γένει πρὸς πατρὸς μὲν ἦν Ἡρακλείδης ἀπὸ Καράνου , πρὸς δὲ μητρὸς Αἰακίδης ἀπὸ Νεοπτολέμου , τῶν πάνυ πεπιστευμένων ἐστί . λέγεται δέ Φίλιππος ἐν θρᾴκῃ τῇ Ὀλυμπιάδι συμμυηθείς αὐτός τε μειράκιον ὢν ἔτι κἀκείνης παιδὸς ὀρφανῆς γονέων ἐρασθῆναι καὶ τὸν γάμον οὕτως ἁρμόσαι , πείσας τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῆς Ἀρύμβαν . ἡ μὲν οὖν νύμφη , πρὸ τῆς νυκτός ᾗ συνείρχθησαν εἰς τὸν θάλαμον , ἔδοξε βροντῆς γενομένης ἐμπεσεῖν αὐτῆς τῇ γαστρὶ κεραυνόν , ἐκ δὲ τῆς πληγῆς πολὺ πῦρ ἀναφθέν , εἶτα ῥηγνύμενον εἰς φλόγας πάντῃ φερομένας διαλυθῆναι . ὁ δὲ Φίλιππος ὑστέρῳ χρόνῳ μετὰ τὸν γάμον εἶδεν ὄναρ αὑτὸν ἐπιβάλλοντα σφραγῖδα τῇ γαστρὶ τῆς γυναικός · ἡ δὲ γλυφὴ τῆς σφραγῖδος , ὡς ᾤετο , λέοντος εἶχεν εἰκόνα . τῶν δὲ ἄλλων μάντεων ὑφορωμένων τὴν ὄψιν , ὡς ἀκριβεστέρας φυλακῆς δεομένων τῷ Φιλίππῳ τῶν περὶ τὸν γάμον , Ἀρίστανδρος ὁ Τελμησσεὺς κύειν ἔφη τὴν ἄνθρωπον , οὐθὲν γὰρ ἀποσφραγίζεσθαι τῶν κενῶν , καὶ κύειν παῖδα θυμοειδῆ καὶ λεοντώδη τὴν φύσιν . ὤφθη δέ ποτε καὶ δράκων κοιμωμένης τῆς Ὀλυμπιάδος παρεκτεταμένος τῷ σώματι · καὶ τοῦτο μάλιστα τοῦ Φιλίππου τὸν ἔρωτα καὶ τὰς φιλοφροσύνας ἀμαυρῶσαι λέγουσιν , ὡς μηδὲ φοιτᾶν ἔτι πολλάκις παρʼ αὐτὴν ἀναπαυσόμενον , εἴτε δείσαντά τινας μαγείας ἐπʼ αὐτῷ καὶ φάρμακα τῆς γυναικός , εἴτε τὴν ὁμιλίαν ὡς κρείττονι συνούσης ἀφοσιούμενον . ἕτερος δὲ περὶ τούτων ἐστὶ λόγος , ὡς πᾶσαι μὲν αἱ τῇδε γυναῖκες ἔνοχοι τοῖς Ὀρφικοῖς οὖσαι καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ὀργιασμοῖς ἐκ τοῦ πάνυ παλαιοῦ , Κλώδωνές τε καὶ Μιμαλλόνες ἐπωνυμίαν ἔχουσαι , πολλὰ ταῖς Ἠδωνίσι καὶ ταῖς περὶ τὸν Αἷμον Θρῄσσαις ὅμοια δρῶσιν , ἀφʼ ὧν δοκεῖ καὶ τὸ θρησκεύειν ὄνομα ταῖς κατακόροις γενέσθαι καὶ περιέργοις ἱερουργίαις , ἡ δὲ Ὀλυμπιὰς μᾶλλον ἑτέρων ζηλώσασα τὰς κατοχάς καὶ τοὺς ἐνθουσιασμοὺς ἐξάγουσα βαρβαρικώτερον ὄφεις μεγάλους χειροήθεις ἐφείλκετο τοῖς θιάσοις , οἳ πολλάκις ἐκ τοῦ κιττοῦ καὶ τῶν μυστικῶν λίκνων παραναδυόμενοι καὶ περιελιττόμενοι τοῖς θύρσοις τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ τοῖς στεφάνοις ἐξέπληττον τοὺς ἄνδρας . οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ Φιλίππῳ μὲν , μετὰ τὸ φάσμα πέμψαντι Χαίρωνα τὸν Μεγαλοπολίτην εἰς Δελφοὺς , χρησμὸν κομισθῆναι λέγουσι παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ κελεύοντος Ἄμμωνι θύειν καὶ σέβεσθαι μάλιστα τοῦτον τὸν θεόν ἀποβαλεῖν δὲ τῶν ὄψεων αὐτὸν τὴν ἑτέραν , ἣν τῷ τῆς θύρας ἁρμῷ προσβαλών κατώπτευσεν ἐν μορφῇ δράκοντος συνευναζόμενον τῇ γυναικὶ τὸν θεόν . ἡ δὲ Ὀλυμπιάς , ὡς Ἐρατοσθένης φησί , προπέμπουσα τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον ἐπὶ τὴν στρατείαν , καὶ φράσασα μόνῳ τὸ περὶ τὴν τέκνωσιν ἀπόρρητον , ἐκέλευεν ἄξια φρονεῖν τῆς γενέσεως , ἕτεροι δέ φασιν αὐτὴν ἀφοσιοῦσθαι καὶ λέγειν οὐ παύσεταί με διαβάλλων Ἀλέξανδρος πρὸς τὴν Ἥραν ; ἐγεννήθη δʼ οὖν Ἀλέξανδρος ἱσταμένου μηνὸς Ἑκατομβαιῶνος , ὃν Μακεδόνες Λῷον καλοῦσιν , ἕκτῃ , καθʼ ἣν ἡμέραν ὁ τῆς Ἐφεσίας Ἀρτέμιδος ἐνεπρήσθη νεώς ᾧ γʼ Ἡγησίας ὁ Μάγνης ἐπιπεφώνηκεν ἐπιφώνημα κατασβέσαι τὴν πυρκαϊὰν ἐκείνην ὑπὸ ψυχρίας δυνάμενον εἰκότως γὰρ ἔφη καταφλεχθῆναι τὸν νεών τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ἀσχολουμένης περὶ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου μαίωσιν .

It is agreed on by all hands , that on the father ' s side , Alexander descended from Hercules by Caranus , and from Aeacus by Neoptolemus on the mother ' s side . His father Philip , being in Samothrace , when he was quite young , fell in love there with Olympias , in company with whom he was initiated in the religious ceremonies of the country , and her father and mother being both dead , soon after , with the consent of her brother , Arymbas , he married her . The night before the consummation of their marriage , she dreamed that a thunderbolt fell upon her body , which kindled a great fire , whose divided flames dispersed themselves all about , and then were extinguished . And Philip , some time after he was married , dreamt that he sealed up his wife ' s body with a seal , whose impression , as be fancied , was the figure of a lion . Some of the diviners interpreted this as a warning to Philip to look narrowly to his wife ; but Aristander of Telmessus , considering how unusual it was to seal up anything that was empty , assured him the meaning of his dream was that the queen was with child of a boy , who would one day prove as stout and courageous as a lion . Once , moreover , a serpent was found lying by Olympias as she slept , which more than anything else , it is said , abated Philip ' s passion for her ; and whether he feared her as an enchantress , or thought she had commerce with some god , and so looked on himself as excluded , he was ever after less fond of her conversation . Others say , that the women of this country having always been extremely addicted to the enthusiastic Orphic rites , and the wild worship of Bacchus ( upon which account they were called Clodones , and Mimallones ) , imitated in many things the practices of the Edonian and Thracian women about Mount Haemus , from whom the word threskeuein seems to have been derived , as a special term for superfluous and over-curious forms of adoration ; and that Olympias , zealously , affecting these fanatical and enthusiastic inspirations , to perform them with more barbaric dread , was wont in the dances proper to these ceremonies to have great tame serpents about her , which sometimes creeping out of the ivy in the mystic fans , sometimes winding themselves about the sacred spears , and the women ' s chaplets , made a spectacle which men could not look upon without terror .

Philip , after this vision , sent Chaeron of Megalopolis to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphi , by which he was commanded to perform sacrifice , and henceforth pay particular honour , above all other gods , to Ammon ; and was told he should one day lose that eye with which he presumed to peep through that chink of the door , when he saw the god , under the form of a serpent , in the company of his wife . Eratosthenes says that Olympias , when she attended Alexander on his way to the army in his first expedition , told him the secret of his birth , and bade him behave himself with courage suitable to his divine extraction .

Andromache came close to his side weeping , and clasped his hand and spake to him , saying : Ah , my husband , this prowess of thine will be thy doom , neither hast thou any pity for thine infant child nor for hapless me that soon shall be thy widow ; for soon will the Achaeans all set upon thee and slay thee . But for me it were better to go down to the grave if I lose thee , for nevermore shall any comfort be mine , when thou hast met thy fate , but only woes . Neither father have I nor queenly mother . My father verily goodly Achilles slew , for utterly laid he waste the well-peopled city of the Cilicians , even Thebe of lofty gates . He slew Eëtion , yet he despoiled him not , for his soul had awe of that ; but he burnt him in his armour , richly dight , and heaped over him a barrow ; and all about were elm-trees planted by nymphs of the mountain , daughters of Zeus that beareth the aegis .

405 Ἀνδρομάχη δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρίστατο δάκρυ χέουσα ,
406 ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε ·
407 δαιμόνιε φθίσει σε τὸ σὸν μένος , οὐδʼ ἐλεαίρεις
408 παῖδά τε νηπίαχον καὶ ἔμʼ ἄμμορον , ἣ τάχα χήρη
409 σεῦ ἔσομαι · τάχα γάρ σε κατακτανέουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ
410 πάντες ἐφορμηθέντες · ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη
411 σεῦ ἀφαμαρτούσῃ χθόνα δύμεναι · οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλη
412 ἔσται θαλπωρὴ ἐπεὶ ἂν σύ γε πότμον ἐπίσπῃς
413 ἀλλʼ ἄχεʼ · οὐδέ μοι ἔστι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ .
414 ἤτοι γὰρ πατέρʼ ἁμὸν ἀπέκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς ,
415 ἐκ δὲ πόλιν πέρσεν Κιλίκων εὖ ναιετάουσαν
416 Θήβην ὑψίπυλον · κατὰ δʼ ἔκτανεν Ἠετίωνα ,
417 οὐδέ μιν ἐξενάριξε , σεβάσσατο γὰρ τό γε θυμῷ ,
418 ἀλλʼ ἄρα μιν κατέκηε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισιν
419 ἠδʼ ἐπὶ σῆμʼ ἔχεεν · περὶ δὲ πτελέας ἐφύτευσαν
420 νύμφαι ὀρεστιάδες κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο .

Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her own . " Dear husband , " said she , " your valor will bring you to destruction ; think on your infant son , and on my hapless self who ere long shall be your widow - for the Achaeans will set upon you in a body and kill you . It would be better for me , should I lose you , to lie dead and buried , for I shall have nothing left to comfort me when you are gone , save only sorrow . I have neither father nor mother now . Achilles slew my father when he sacked Thebe the goodly city of the Cilicians . He slew him , but did not for very shame despoil him ; when he had burned him in his wondrous armor , he raised a barrow over his ashes and the mountain nymphs , daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus , planted a grove of elms about his tomb .

Χορός
ὦ κλεινὰ Σαλαμίς , σὺ μέν που
ναίεις ἁλίπλακτος , εὐδαίμων ,
πᾶσιν περίφαντος ἀεί :
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὁ τλάμων παλαιὸς ἀφ᾽ οὗ χρόνος
Ἰδαῖα μίμνων λειμώνι᾽ ἔπαυλα μηνῶν
ἀνήριθμος αἰὲν εὐνῶμαι
χρόνῳ τρυχόμενος ,
κακὰν ἐλπίδ᾽ ἔχων
ἔτι μέ ποτ᾽ ἀνύσειν
τὸν ἀπότροπον ἀΐδηλον Ἅιδαν .
καί μοι δυσθεράπευτος Αἴας
ξύνεστιν ἔφεδρος , ὤμοι μοι ,
θείᾳ μανίᾳ ξύναυλος :
ὃν ἐξεπέμψω πρὶν δή ποτε θουρίῳ
κρατοῦντ᾽ ἐν Ἄρει : νῦν δ᾽ αὖ φρενὸς οἰοβώτας
φίλοις μέγα πένθος ηὕρηται .
τὰ πρὶν δ᾽ ἔργα χεροῖν
μεγίστας ἀρετᾶς
ἄφιλα παρ᾽ ἀφίλοις
ἔπεσ᾽ ἔπεσε μελέοις Ἀτρείδαις .

Chorus
Oh famous Salamis , you always dwell sea-beaten , blessed , well-seen by all . I lay kenneled suffering for a long time remaining in Trojan meadows for countless months , wasting away with time , holding a wicked expectation until the time when I will finish my journey to backwards , unseen Hades . And difficult to cure Ajax is lying by near to me -oh me ! - he dwelling with divine madness . He whom powerful you sent out truly once before into furious Ares . But now , again feeding alone in his mind he has been discovered a great pain to his friends . And the deeds of greatness and excellence by his two hands fell down friendless fell down by the unfriendly , miserable Atreidae .

Chorus
Oh renowned Salamis , you live on sea-beaten , blessed and always a beacon to humans . But I long suffering away from you for ages remain on the Trojan plain for countless unending months and lay kenneled , wasting away with time . I hold a wretched expectation until the moment when I will finish my trudging journey to evil , invisible Hades . And now incurable Ajax is with me as an ally in a fight , but oh , he dwells in divine madness . Truly once before you sent that powerful one to furious Ares , but now he foraging alone in his mind has been found a great sorrow to his dear ones . The deeds of greatness and excellence made before by his two hands fell into the dust friendless , fell before the unfriendly , miserable Atreidae .

Τεῦκρος

ὦ τῶν ἁπάντων δὴ θεαμάτων ἐμοὶ
ἄλγιστον ὧν προσεῖδον ὀφθαλμοῖς ἐγώ ,
ὁδός θ᾽ ὁδῶν πασῶν ἀνιάσασα δὴ
μάλιστα τοὐμὸν σπλάγχνον , ἣν δὴ νῦν ἔβην .
ὦ φίλτατ᾽ Αἴας , τὸν σὸν ὡς ἐπῃσθόμην
μόρον διώκων κἀξιχνοσκοπούμενος .
ὀξεῖα γάρ σου βάξις ὡς θεοῦ τινος
διῆλθ᾽ Ἀχαιοὺς πάντας ὡς οἴχει θανών .
ἁγὼ κλύων δύστηνος ἐκποδὼν μὲν ὢν
ὑπεστέναζον , νῦν δ᾽ ὁρῶν ἀπόλλυμαι .
οἴμοι .
ἴθ᾽ , ἐκκάλυψον , ὡς ἴδω τὸ πᾶν κακόν .
ὦ δυσθέατον ὄμμα καὶ τόλμης πικρᾶς ,
ὅσας ἀνίας μοι κατασπείρας φθίνεις .
ποῖ γὰρ μολεῖν μοι δυνατόν , εἰς ποίους βροτούς ,
τοῖς σοῖς ἀρήξαντ᾽ ἐν πόνοισι μηδαμοῦ ;
ἦ πού με Τελαμών , σὸς πατὴρ ἐμός θ᾽ ἅμα ,
δέξαιτ᾽ ἂν εὐπρόσωπος ἵλεώς τ᾽ ἴσως
χωροῦντ᾽ ἄνευ σοῦ . πῶς γὰρ οὔχ ; ὅτῳ πάρα
μηδ᾽ εὐτυχοῦντι μηδὲν ἥδιον γελᾶν .
οὗτος τί κρύψει ; ποῖον οὐχ ἐρεῖ κακὸν
τὸν ἐκ δορὸς γεγῶτα πολεμίου νόθον ,
τὸν δειλίᾳ προδόντα καὶ κακανδρίᾳ
σέ , φίλτατ᾽ Αἴας , ἢ δόλοισιν , ὡς τὰ σὰ
κράτη θανόντος καὶ δόμους νέμοιμι σούς .
τοιαῦτ᾽ ἀνὴρ δύσοργος , ἐν γήρᾳ βαρύς ,
ἐρεῖ , πρὸς οὐδὲν εἰς ἔριν θυμούμενος .
τέλος δ᾽ ἀπωστὸς γῆς ἀπορριφθήσομαι ,
δοῦλος λόγοισιν ἀντ᾽ ἐλευθέρου φανείς .
τοιαῦτα μὲν κατ᾽ οἶκον : ἐν Τροίᾳ δέ μοι
πολλοὶ μὲν ἐχθροί , παῦρα δ᾽ ὠφελήσιμα .
καὶ ταῦτα πάντα σοῦ θανόντος ηὑρόμην .
οἴμοι , τί δράσω ; πῶς σ᾽ ἀποσπάσω πικροῦ :
τοῦδ᾽ αἰόλου κνώδοντος , ὦ τάλας , ὑφ᾽ οὗ
φονέως ἄρ᾽ ἐξέπνευσας ; εἶδες ὡς χρόνῳ
ἔμελλέ σ᾽ Ἕκτωρ καὶ θανὼν ἀποφθίσειν ;
σκέψασθε , πρὸς θεῶν , τὴν τύχην δυοῖν βροτοῖν .
Ἕκτωρ μέν , ᾧ δὴ τοῦδ᾽ ἐδωρήθη πάρα ,
ζωστῆρι πρισθεὶς ἱππικῶν ἐξ ἀντύγων
ἐκνάπτετ᾽ αἰέν , ἔστ᾽ ἀπέψυξεν βίον :
οὗτος δ᾽ ἐκείνου τήνδε δωρεὰν ἔχων
πρὸς τοῦδ᾽ ὄλωλε θανασίμῳ πεσήματι .
ἆρ᾽ οὐκ Ἐρινὺς τοῦτ᾽ ἐχάλκευσεν ξίφος
κἀκεῖνον Ἅιδης , δημιουργὸς ἄγριος ;
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τὰ πάντ᾽ ἀεὶ
φάσκοιμ᾽ ἂν ἀνθρώποισι μηχανᾶν θεούς :
ὅτῳ δὲ μὴ τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν γνώμῃ φίλα ,
κεῖνός τ᾽ ἐκεῖνα στεργέτω κἀγὼ τάδε .

Χορός

μὴ τεῖνε μακράν , ἀλλ᾽ ὅπως κρύψεις τάφῳ
φράζου τὸν ἄνδρα χὤ τι μυθήσει τάχα .
βλέπω γὰρ ἐχθρὸν φῶτα , καὶ τάχ᾽ ἂν κακοῖς
γελῶν ἃ δὴ κακοῦργος ἐξίκοιτ᾽ ἀνήρ .

Teucer
Oh truly , I see the most painful thing to me of all spectacles , and this is truly the most sorrowful road of all roads with respect to my heart , which I made now , as , oh beloved Ajax , while pursuing and tracking I learned your fate . For a sharp rumor about you as if from some god spread throughout the Achaeans how you dying are ruined . Hearing this from far away wretched I certainly was moaning low , and now seeing I am utterly destroyed . Oh god ! Go , uncover him , so I might see the entire evil . Oh body of bitter daring difficult to see , you having sowed such great grief for me are wasted away . For where am I able to go , to what kind of mortals , when I aided your work in no way ? For doubtless Telemon , your father and mine at the same time , might accept me returning without you with glad countenance kindly and fairly . How not ? To whom being accustomed to smile not more pleasantly not even being fortunate . What will this one hide ? Will he not say some sort of bad thing to me , the bastard begotten from the spear of war , the betrayer by cowardice and unmanliness , you , beloved Ajax , or by treachery , or that I wished to control your power and your house after your death . Such things a man quick to anger , violent in old age , will say , rushing into strife on account of nothing . I thrust out will be forced out of the end of our land , I having seemed a slave by words instead of a free man . These are the affairs according to the house , but in Troy there are many enemies to me , and few useful ones , and I gained all these from your death . Oh god , what will I do ? How will I drag you away from the sharp edge of this gleaming sword , oh wretched one , because of which a murderer it seems you breathed your last ? Do you see in time Hector even dead was about to kill you ? Behold , on account of the gods , the fortune to the two mortals . Hector having been bound from the chariot rails by the warrior’s belt which had been gifted to him was tortured always until he breathed out life . And this one having the gift of that man perished onto this by a fatal fall . Did the Furies forge this sword , and that one Hades , the fierce skilled craftsman ? I truly would say that the gods always contrive these things and also all things for mortals . But , to the one in knowing these things are not good , let that one delight in those things and I in these .

Chorus
Do not stretch longer , but think how you will bury that man in funeral rites , and quickly what you will say . For I see a hated man , and he might come laughing at the bad things , just like a hurtful man .

Teucer
Oh , I looked upon the most painful of all sights to my eyes , and truly the road which I just now trod while tracking and pursuing you was the most sorrowful of journeys for my heart as I discovered your fate . As if from some god a bitter prophecy about you sped through all the Achaeans that you dead were undone . Hearing this from far away certainly I moaned in grief then , and now having seen I am destroyed . Oh , god . Come , uncover the body so that I might see the bare wickedness . Oh body full of cruel daring impossible to look upon , what great distress you sowed with your death . Where can I go now ? To what people when I aided you in your labors in no way ? Telamon , your father and even mine , might kindly and fairly accept me with glad countenance even as I arrive without you . Why not ? As laughter is as accustomed to him no more pleasantly even when he is fortunate . What would he hide ? Will he not say something terrible , " the bastard begotten from the spear of war " or " the betrayer by cowardice and impotence " or " by trickery after your death beloved Ajax , that I wished to manage your power and your house . " The short tempered man , violent in his old age , will say such things being provoked into strife even on account of nothing . I will be cast out as an exile from our home appearing as a slave by his account instead of as freedman . Such is the state of affairs at home . And in Troy I have many enemies and few allies . All these things I gained from your death . Oh god , what will I do ? How will I lift your body , oh wretched one , from the sharp edge of this gleaming sword , the very murderer which caused you to breathe your last ? Can you see how Hector ( even though he is dead now ) was destined to kill you in time ? Behold the fortune of these two mortals given by the gods . First , Hector bound from the chariot rails by the very warrior’s belt which was gifted to him was carded along the ground continuously , until he breathed out his life . And Ajax having the battle-gift from Hector used this to destroy himself with his fatal fall . Did the Furies not forge this sword ? And Hades that cruelly skilled craftsman ? I say that the gods contrived these and all things for mortals . For the one who does not hold this as good in mind , let that one delight in his own things , and I in mine .

Chorus
Do not delay longer , but decide how you will bury this man with proper rights , decide quickly what you will say . For I see a hateful man who is likely coming laughing at our bad fate just like a malicious man would .

Κίρκη δ᾽ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμ᾽ ἥμενον οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ σίτῳ
χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα , κρατερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα ,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα :
‘

τίφθ᾽ οὕτως , Ὀδυσεῦ , κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕζεαι ἶσος ἀναύδῳ ,
θυμὸν ἔδων , βρώμης δ᾽ οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος ;
ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀίεαι : οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
δειδίμεν : ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον .
’

ὣς ἔφατ᾽ , αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον :
‘ὦ Κίρκη , τίς γάρ κεν ἀνήρ , ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη ,
πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος ,
πρὶν λύσασθ᾽ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ;
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις ,
λῦσον , ἵν᾽ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους .

When Circe saw me sitting there , not stretching out my hands to the food , but weighed down with sorrow , she approached and spoke with winged words : " Odysseus , why do you sit as if you were dumb , eating your heart out , not touching the food or drink ? Are you suspicious of some new ruse ? Have no fear , I have sworn you a solemn oath already not to do you harm . "
To this I answered : " Circe , what decent man could bring himself to eat and drink before he had freed his men , and seen them face to face ? If you wish me in truth to eat and drink as you ask , then set them free and let me see my loyal friends with my own eyes .

Now when Circe noted that I sat thus , and did not put forth my hands to the food , but was burdened with sore grief , she came close to me , and spoke winged words : " ‘Why , Odysseus , dost thou sit thus like one that is dumb , eating thy heart , and dost not touch food or drink ? Dost thou haply forbode some other guile ? Nay , thou needest in no wise fear , for already have I sworn a mighty oath to do thee no harm . ’ " So she spoke , but I answered her , and said : ‘Circe , what man that is right-minded could bring himself to taste of food or drink , ere yet he had won freedom for his comrades , and beheld them before his face ? But if thou of a ready heart dost bid me eat and drink , set them free , that mine eyes may behold my trusty comrades .

σοὶ δ᾽ ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόεντα
εἴρεσθ᾽ , ὄφρ᾽ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω :
τί πρῶτόν τοι ἔπειτα , τί δ᾽ ὑστάτιον καταλέξω ;
κήδε᾽ ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες .
νῦν δ᾽ ὄνομα πρῶτον μυθήσομαι , ὄφρα καὶ ὑμεῖς
εἴδετ᾽ , ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἂν ἔπειτα φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ
ὑμῖν ξεῖνος ἔω καὶ ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίων .
εἴμ᾽ Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης , ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν
ἀνθρώποισι μέλω , καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει .

Now , however , since you are inclined to ask the story of my sorrows , and rekindle my own sad memories in respect of them , I do not know how to begin , nor yet how to continue and conclude my tale , for the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me .
" Firstly , then , I will tell you my name that you too may know it , and that one day , if I outlive this time of sorrow , I may become a guest-friend to you , though I live so far away from all of you . I am Odysseus son of Laertes , renowned among humankind for all manner of subtlety , so that my kleos ascends to heaven

But your heart prompts you to ask of my sad troubles , and make me weep and groan the more . How shall I start and end my tale ? First let me give you my name , so you all know , and if I escape from pitiless fate later , I will play host to you , though I live far off . I am Odysseus , Laertes’ son , known to all for my stratagems , and my fame has reached the heavens .

ὁσσάκι δ᾽ ὁρμήσειε πυλάων Δαρδανιάων
ἀντίον ἀΐξασθαι ἐϋδμήτους ὑπὸ πύργους ,
εἴ πως οἷ καθύπερθεν ἀλάλκοιεν βελέεσσι ,
τοσσάκι μιν προπάροιθεν ἀποστρέψασκε παραφθὰς
πρὸς πεδίον : αὐτὸς δὲ ποτὶ πτόλιος πέτετ᾽ αἰεί .
ὡς δ᾽ ἐν ὀνείρῳ οὐ δύναται φεύγοντα διώκειν :

Oft as he strove to rush straight for the Dardanian gates to gain the shelter of the well-built walls , if so be his fellows from above might succour him with missiles , so oft would Achilles be beforehand with him and turn him back toward the plain , but himself sped on by the city ' s walls . And as in a dream a man availeth not to pursue one that fleeth before him

Oft as to reach the Dardan gates he bends ,
And hopes the assistance of his pitying friends ,
( Whose showering arrows , as he coursed below ,
From the high turrets might oppress the foe , )
So oft Achilles turns him to the plain :
He eyes the city , but he eyes in vain .
As men in slumbers seem with speedy pace ,

ἧος ὃ ταῦθ᾽ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν ,
ἕλκετο δ᾽ ἐκ κολεοῖο μέγα ξίφος , ἦλθε δ᾽ Ἀθήνη
οὐρανόθεν : πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη
ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε :
στῆ δ᾽ ὄπιθεν , ξανθῆς δὲ κόμης ἕλε Πηλεΐωνα
οἴῳ φαινομένη : τῶν δ᾽ ἄλλων οὔ τις ὁρᾶτο :
θάμβησεν δ᾽ Ἀχιλεύς , μετὰ δ᾽ ἐτράπετ᾽ , αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἔγνω
Παλλάδ᾽ Ἀθηναίην : δεινὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε φάανθεν :

While he pondered this in mind and heart , and was drawing from its sheath his great sword , Athene came from heaven . The white-armed goddess Hera had sent her forth , for in her heart she loved and cared for both men alike . She stood behind him , and seized the son of Peleus by his fair hair , appearing to him alone . No one of the others saw her . Achilles was seized with wonder , and turned around , and immediately recognized Pallas Athene . Terribly her eyes shone .

Now as he weighed in mind and spirit these two courses and was drawing from its scabbard the great sword , Athene descended from the sky . For Hera the goddess of the white arms sent her , who loved both men equally in her heart and cared for them . The goddess standing behind Peleus ' son caught him by the fair hair , appearing to him only , for no man of the others saw her . Achilleus in amazement turned about , and straightway knew Pallas Athene and the terrible eyes shining .